of the resolution, and to appear before the Committees on Post Offices and Post Roads in advocacy of it,consisting of Messrs. THURBER, of New York, BUCHANAN, of Trenton, CROSBY, of Chicago.

The consideration of the shipping question was resumed.

Mr. BUCHANAN, of Trenton: I have the following proposition to offer:

Resolved, That it should be the policy of the American Government to make it possible to have the American mail carried in American bottoms, only.

This is not a similar proposition to the one which was rejected yesterday, because that seemed to provide for some special rate of compensation. This does not. It simply announces the general proposition that it should be the policy of the American people to have the American mail carried in American bottoms, only. Of course there are points where that would be impracticable, but I offer this for the purpose of testing the sense of this Board upon the bare principle that it should be the policy of the American people to have the American mails carried in American ships.

Mr. STRANAHAN, of New York: Why not make the proposition in such a shape that it may be a practicable thing, and not present it in so impracticable a shape?

Mr. SNow, of New York: A proposition has been suggested that it should be the right of an American steamship to carry the mail; and it seemed to me as though that would be a practicable thing, — that whenever this steamship could take the mails and carry them, it should have the highest rate paid to any steamship line. It seems to me that the American mails would have to stop entirely, according to the gentleman's resolution, if there were no American ships in port.

Mr. MEYER, of New York: I suggest a resolution in this form:

Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board it is occasion for regret that the American ocean mails cannot at the present time be carried in American steamships,

and I offer it as a substitute for the resolution of Mr. BUCHANAN.

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Mr. WETHERILL, of Philadelphia, moved the postponement of the whole matter.

Mr. MEYER, of New York: I am quite willing; but I thought if a vote was to be taken, my resolution would be a way out of it.

Mr. KEMBLE, of Boston: I rise to say I hope the matter will not be postponed; and I advocate the adoption of the substitute for Mr. BUCHANAN's resolution. The substitute simply gives an expression of opinion on the part of this Board in regard to a very important matter, and one upon which we can all agree, so far as the expression of regret is concerned.

Mr. BUCHANAN, of Trenton: I modify my resolution to read :

Resolved, That it should be the policy of the American Government to make it possible to have the American mail carried in American bottoms, only.

Mr. THURBER, of New York: Leave off the word “only.”

Mr. KEMBLE, of Boston: The word "only" is the most objectionable part of the resolution.

Mr. WETHERILL, of Philadelphia, withdrew his motion to postpone.

Mr. MEYER, of New York, renewed his substitute.

Mr. BUCHANAN, of Trenton: My only objection to the substitute is, that the adoption of the substitute would destroy my resolution. The substitute itself is perfectly harmless. I do not suppose there is a man upon this floor who does not regret the fact stated; and it would be almost impossible for any one to so understand the object of the substitute as to vote against it, because we believe what it says. As a sanitary measure I think the substitute is a remarkable success. [Laughter.] But a vote for that substitute is practically a vote against the proposition that we want the American mails carried in American bottoms, only. Now, then, I have modified my original resolution to read in this form, that it should be the policy of the American Government to make it possible to have the American mail carried in American bottoms, only. Now, if there be a man here who does not want that to be done, why, I am glad I am not he.

Mr. WETHERILL, of Philadelphia: I thought that resolution ought to be postponed, because it is not an exact statement of the case. We regret that American mails are not carried in American ships, and yet Philadelphia at great expense has established an American line, which is today carrying the American mails.. I think that resolution is rather a slight upon the mercantile enterprise of Philadelphia, which has gone to great expense to establish what is the only American steamship line in the trans-Atlantic service, with American built ships, flying the American flag. I hope that the resolution will be so drawn or modified as not to put a slight upon the enterprise and patriotism of the Philadelphia merchants.

Mr. MEYER, of New York: I hadn't the slightest idea of doing anything of the kind. I am quite willing to have it so modified as to recognize the fact that some mails are carried in American bottoms.

Mr. WETHERILL, of Philadelphia: It will amount to but little.

Mr. HOYT, of New York, moved the indefinite postponement of the whole question, which was carried by a vote of 20 to 6.

VIII. THE PILOT SERVICE.

Philadelphia Board of Trade.

The conditions under which pilot service is performed are not the same in all the States of our Union, but differ essentially in many respects. Pilotage should, therefore, continue under State jurisdiction with only such kind of action as has heretofore been taken by the General Government.

Mr. WINSOR, of Philadelphia: This matter was placed on the programme by the Philadelphia Board of Trade. The reason for placing it there at all at this time I will give in a very few words.

For several years past there have been propositions before our local Board and before this National Board of Trade to this effect that the General Government should abolish all compulsory pilotage.

I offer in the first place, in order to bring the matter before the Board, this proposition:

WHEREAS, The conditions under which pilotage service is performed are so

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unlike in the many rivers, lakes, bays and harbors of our extensive country, that no general rules and regulations could be framed which would be suitable for all localities, therefore

Resolved, That pilotage service should continue, as it now is, under the jurisdiction of the States respectively where such service is performed, with only such kind of action thereon as has heretofore been taken by the General Government.

Now, the kind of action that has been taken by the General Government in regard to pilotage is simply this:

In August, 1789, an Act for the establishment and support of light-houses, beacons, buoys and public piers was passed, which reads as follows:

"SEC. IV. That all bays, inlets, rivers, harbors and ports of the United States shall continue to be regulated in conformity with the existing laws of the States, respectively, wherein such pilots may be, or with such laws as the States may, respectively, hereafter enact for the purpose, until further legislative provision shall be made by Congress."

That left the matter, as you see, under the jurisdiction of the States, respectively; and they have the power to abolish compulsory pilotage in any port or place that they may see fit without going to Congress or coming to this National Board.

Congress has taken this further action. In 1837, there arose a conflict between the State of New Jersey and the State of New York in relation to pilotage. Those States border on the same navigable waters, and there was a conflict between their pilots. Thereupon Congress passed this Act:

"ACT OF MARCH 2nd, 1837.

An Act concerning Pilots.

Be it enacted, &c., That it shall and may be lawful for the master or commander of any vessel coming into, or going out of, any port situate upon waters which are the boundary between two States, to employ any pilot duly licensed or authorized by the laws of either of the States bounded on the said waters, to pilot said vessel to or from said port; any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding." (4th Story's L. U. S., 2536.)

That express Act of Congress left the pilotage where it was originally in this country, and where it was in the colonies before we were independent; and the only action taken since is to prevent, in regard to these laws, any conflict between the States of the Union. Whenever there is any, Congress interferes; otherwise, the States are free to do as they please.

Now, in the State of Maine, I understand, they have abolished compulsory pilotage at Portland, which, I think, was a very proper thing to do. But, when parties go to Congress, as they do, asking for the abolition of compulsory pilotage, they interfere with the rights of the States. Therefore, it is clear to me that this agitation about the repeal of compulsory pilotage should cease altogether, so far as the United States is concerned. The matter has been before the Committee on Commerce three times, and they have refused to take it up, and continue to refuse to take it up. If the city of New York wants compulsory pilotage abolished, it must secure this end at home, without coming here or going elsewhere for it; and that is simply my object in offering the resolution.

Mr. Hoyt, of New York: This question of pilotage has made a great deal of excitement in the State of Connecticut. That State owns a great deal of shipping, and craft of various sorts and kinds, that have occasion very frequently to pass to the city of New York, or through what is called Hell Gate; and this compulsory pilotage which now prevails in the port of New York is a source of very great complaint. It seems that without rendering any service whatever, the pilots of New York make levies upon sailing craft coming through the Sound, and in such large sums as become very onerous. The captains sailing from these different ports in Connecticut are perfectly acquainted with the channel, and have no occasion whatever for any pilots, do not employ pilots, and do not receive them when their services are tendered, and often refuse to pay. The result is, that suits are often brought against them, and much annoyance and trouble is constantly arising. I think, only last summer, the Legislature of Connecticut sent a memorial to Congress asking the enactment of laws that should give relief from these pilotage grievances. The question is causing a great deal of discontent in that State in the various ports; and, while I am not anxious that this Board should do anything in the case, or perhaps not anxious that it should take any action, certainly I would strongly object to its taking any ground that nothing should be done. If the Board do not desire to discuss it, I would move the indefinite postponement of this resolution.

Mr. WINSOR, of Philadelphia: I understand that Congress has expressly declared that it will take cognizance of such things as